PALGHAR (Maharashtra, India): Hundreds of candidates selected for various posts under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) have launched an indefinite day-night sit-in protest in Palghar district of Maharashtra, demanding that letters for their regular appointment be released immediately.
Candidates from different parts of the district have launched sit-in demonstration in front of the Palghar Zilla Parishad (district council) office. The protest entered its fourth day on Saturday. The agitation is being staged around the clock, with the candidates staging the protest day and night. The protesters include aspirants and those who have been engaged on honorarium without being given regular scale of pay.
They claim that the government issued an order earlier this month for final appointments to be given to successful candidates across 17 cadres. However, no appointment letters have been issued so far. This has left many selected candidates in limbo. Some candidates have been hired but are being paid an honorarium and not regular salaries. They are also demanding regular appointments.
PESA was introduced to extend the provisions of India’s Panchayati Raj to scheduled areas, aimed at empowering tribal communities with local self-governance and facilitating employment in rural administrative roles. Recruitment under PESA includes positions such as teachers, talathis, gram sevaks, health workers, nurses, forest guards and agricultural assistants tasked with implementation of rural welfare, development and governance programs in tribal regions.
The protesters accused the local administration and officials of deliberate delay, and alleged that this was an attempt to stall the recruitment process. This was despite the fact that there was no order that prevented the appointments being made. They said previous recruitment drives had suffered similar disruptions. The protesters also highlighted the broader impact on service delivery in PESA areas, where vacancies can hinder essential services to remote and tribal communities.
The “Adivasi 17 Cadre PESA Employees Union” is leading the agitation. Office bearers of the union said the protest will continue until appointment letters are issued to all eligible candidates. Union members called for urgent intervention from district and state authorities to resolve the impasse and fulfill recruitment obligations.
The protest underscores long-standing challenges in implementing recruitment and staffing initiatives in tribal and rural regions, where bureaucratic delays and administrative hurdles often frustrate efforts to strengthen local governance and development. In Palghar district, which has previously grappled with large numbers of vacant positions at the village level, these delays have compounded concerns over effective service delivery.
District officials not yet publicly responded to the demands. The protesters have threatened to intensify their agitation if appointment letters were not issued.
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